Shoe-button-removing machine.



H. J. BRAGDON. snon BUTTON nnmovme momma.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 21, 1914.

Patented M1123, 19115.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS C17" PHOTDJJTHQ. WASHINGTON, D C.

H. J. BRAGDON.

SHOE BUTTON REMOVING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 14.43.21. 1914.

m mm I Patented Mar.23,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

l Wil ard AW HERBERT J'. BRAGDON, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF T0 ALBERT J'. NOLINSKY, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

SI-IOE-BU'ITON-REMOVING MACHINE.

l,ll33,226.

Application filed March 21, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT J. BRAGDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Button-Removing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to certain improvements in machines for removing shoe-buttons from the shoes to Which they are sewed.

It is customary in the manufacture of button-sh0es to deliver the completed shoes with the buttons sewed along a line which represents the average position for shoes of the size and last in question. When the shoes are to be sold, they are tried on by the purchaser, and if it is found that the buttons are not in the proper position they must be removed and reset. It is a very general practice to reset the buttons on ladies shoes in particular, and, therefore, themajority of button-shoes which are sold must have the buttons reset. For this reason, the buttons are generally sewed on instead of being riveted at the time the shoes are manufactured, so that they may be easily removed in case it is necessary to rest them.

The present invention has reference to a machine which may. be readily used for removing the buttons, with convenience and without injury to the shoe or to the button. By reason of the large number of shoe-buttons which must thus be removed and reset, it follows that there would be a great wastage of buttons in case they were not collected after being removed from the shoes.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to make provision for collecting the buttons as they are removed, so that they may be again used.

In this connection, one of the objects of this invention is to provide means for collecting the buttons directly in a receptacle which may be of standard form and construction for use in connection with buttonriveting machines, so that when the buttons have been collected, such receptacle may be withdrawn from the button-removing machine and connected onto the botton-riveting machine. This will enable the reattachment of the buttons without necessity of laboriously feeding them into a button-feeding machine.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915..

Serial No. 826,394.

The almost universal practice in button construction is to provide the button with an eye through which the threads or rivet are passed. When the button has been sewed in place, the threads lie down against this eye. In removing the button provision should be made for severing the threads without injury to the eye, and the machine M should be so constructed that the cutting edges will not be dulled or otherwise injured by the eye.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a form of machine or construction such that not only will the button eyes not injure the cutting blades, but such that, on the other hand, the cutting edges will be sharpened or whetted by the passage of the button eyes over them. This will insure a continuous sharpening of the cutting edges as the machine is used, so as to keep said edges in proper condition, instead of dulling the edges by repeated use.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the cutting blades or parts that they will readily and perfectly accommodate themselves to service with buttons having eyes of different sizes or widths; also in this connection to provide a construction such that the cutting force which will be exerted on the threads may be adjusted from time to time by the operator. Both of these features will go to insure a perfect operation of the machine with button-eyes of different sizes and characteristics, and to insure a perfect operation of the machine when using the same for the removal of buttons which have been attached by threads of different sizes and numbers of stitches.

Another object of the invention is to so construct and arrange the parts that the buttons may be very easily and perfectly introduced between the severing blades, so that, when the severing operation commences, the buttons will always occupy and maintain the proper position in the machine. This is an important feature, because in this class of service the buttons must be perfectly centered in the machine without particular attention on the part of the operator.

In this connection, another object is to so arrange and relate the parts that, during the button-severing operation, the buttons will be perfectly fed and n'iaintained between the blades.

I will not at this point enlarge upon the various objects to be accomplished, for it will appear from a detailed description of the invention that many other objects and uses may be accomplished.

Other objects and uses will appear from a detailed description of the invention which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the completed machine with the foot pedal in its raised or initial position, a button-receptacle of familiar form and construction being inserted to receive the buttons as they are severed; Fig. 2 shows an enlarged vertical section from front to rear through the upper portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a plan or top view of the head portion of themachine; Fig. 4 shows a section taken on the line 14 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 shows an enlarged edge view of one of the cutting blades of preferred construction; Fig. 6 shows an enlarged section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and shows a button in place between the blades; Fig. 7 shows an enlarged top end view of the left hand blade of Fig. 1, being the blade which appears in elevation in Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 shows a cross section through the blade of Fig. 7 taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the several figures, I have illustrated only a single embodiment of the features of my invention, but it will presently appear that manyother arrangements or embodiments vmay be substituted therefor. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the main operative parts are contained or included in a head portion 9. For convenience of position and operation, which facts will presently more fully appear, I prefer to mount this head portion on an upright stand or the like 10 having the legs 11.' This stand is preferably of tubular form, as is best shown in Fig. 2, the tube having its upper end threaded into a downwardly depending collar or the like 12, of a head member 13. This head member is provided with a forwardly extending slot 14 which is best shown in Fig. 4, said slot continuing from the upper end of the head member downwardly to a point 15 near the lower end of the same.

Within the slot it I mount a vertically traveling finger or the like 16, and for convenience of construction, this finger may be provided as a forwardly extending or inturned continuation of a vertical rod or the like 17. This rod is preferably squared as best shown in Fig. 4, and extends down through a bearing 18 in the head member 13, and down through the tube 10, and its lower end; is provided with or connected to a foot portion or pedal 19. A tension spring 01' the like 20 has one end connected to the red at the point 21, and its other end hooked over a hook 22, and tends to raise the rod and restore it to the uppermost position which is illustrated in Fig. 2. A cap or the like 23 serves to cover over the upper end of the slot 14, said cap being held in position in any desired manner as by means of the screws 25. This cap member also serves to limit the upward movement of the rod and foot pedal, and may also serve another function to be presently explained.

To the front portion of the head, I attach a pair of cooperating blades or the like 26 and 27. These blades have a length substantially equal to the length of the head member 13, and they cooperate together for the purpose of removing the buttons. It is preferred that one of the blades, for ex ample, the blade 26, be rigidly secured to the head piece, while the blade 27 is capable of a certain amount of back and forth movement or adjustment with respect to the first mentioned blade. As a simple means of securing this result, the blade 27 is shown as provided with a pair of slightly elongated slots 28, which accommodate the shouldered studs or screws 29. Springs 30 exert a pressure on the blade 27 to carry it toward the blade 26. It is preferred that there be provided two of these springs, one near the top, and one near the bottom of the blade, as best shown in Fig. 1. These springs are shown as provided with the inturned or hooked end portions 31. Setscrews 32 serve as a convenient means for adjusting the tension or pressure of the springs, so that the cooperating force of the blades may be adjusted or changed from time to time as desired.

The upper ends of the blades are preferably formed so that by cooperating together they provide a slot or the like 33, as best shown in Fig. 1, into which the head of the button may be initially directed. The upper end of this slot is wide enough to freely accommodate the head of the button, and the slot tapers in width until, at the point 34:, it virtually disappears. The upper ends of the blades are preferably beveled toward the rear, as best shown in Figs. 3, 7, and 8, so that after the button has been initially directed into the slot, it will be drawn toward the rear of the blade as it is pulled down, so that finally the shoulders of the button-head will rest against the rear faces of the blades, as best shown in Fig. 6. In this figure, the button-head is indicated by the numeral 35, and the eye or shank by the numeral 36. It will be seen that the shoulder of the button rests squarely against the rear surfaces of the blades, and this position will be maintained during the downward travel of the button. In these figures, the beveled essee surfaces of the blades are indicated by the numeral 37.

It sometimes happens that the button which is to be removed has not been securely or closely sewed to the shoe. When this is the case, the button may not draw'squarely up against the blades, as shown in Fig. 6, when it is first inserted, and as a result the eye of the button might not properly seat or enter between the cooperating edges of the blades. ll, therefore, prefer to provide a spring arm or member 38 which is conveniently illustrated as having its upper end rigidly connected to the cap piece and downwardly depending therefrom. This spring member is preferably flexed in such a manner that when the button is first inserted into the slot 33 the button-head will rest against the spring member, and as the button is then drawn down to the lower end 34; of the slot, the button-head will be held up close to the blade, so that the eye or shank 36 will be caused to enter between the blades. This will insure a proper entry of the button even in those cases where the button was not originally securely attached to the shoe. As a convenient means of construction I have illustrated the finger piece 16 as provided with the perforation 39 for the accommodation of the spring member 38.

The forward end of the finger piece 16 is illustrated as beveled to present the beveled end surface 40. This is the surface which will contact or engage the head of the button as the rod 17 is drawn downward. It, therefore, follows that, as the button is forced down, its head will be held solidly against the rear surfaces of the blades, thereby insuring that the shank or eye of the button will be properly maintained between the blades during the entire descent or downward movement.

The mechanisms thus far described will serve to insure a proper delivery of the eye or shank of the button between the cooperating edges of the blades, and will also serve to insure a proper maintaining of the eye between the blades during the descent of the button. The cooperating edges of the blades themselves must be so formed that, as the button descends, the threads will be severed so that by the time the lower ends of the blades are reached, the button will be completely released. For this purpose, I have provided the diagonally extending grooves or slots 4L1 which are best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. These grooves extend diagnally downward and forward, so that their lower ends terminate in the front face 42 of the blade. Between the grooves are projecting ribs or cutting portions 43. The upper edge at of each of these ribs is sharpened, while the lower or rear edge 45 is unsharpened, and is preferably slightly below the corresponding sharpened edge, so that there is a certain amount of back out or retreat on the face of the rib. This will insure that the pressure of the blades on the threads will be taken up by the upper sharp edges of the ribs, and, therefore, as the eye of the button descends the threads will be subjected to a cutting action. This will be apparent from Fig. 6. Nevertheless, the amount of back out or camber on the ribs will be so slight that no cutting effect or action will be produced on the metal of the eye itself, but rather a sharpening effect will occur, by reason of the travel of the eye over the faces of the ribs. By slanting the grooves ll toward the front of the blades, the grooves r will be self-cleaningthat is to say, the threads which are cut off or removed from the eyes will work down in these grooves and be delivered from the front of the blades, instead of working down and delivering into the interior of the machine where they might cause trouble and tend to clog up the parts.

It will be evident that a sufiicient cooperating pressure or force must be generated between the blades to insure a proper cut ting action; but if the pressure were to be too great, the eye would be gripped so tightly that the button would not properly descend; also there would be the possibility of cutting the eye itself. The amount of cooperating force will depend largely upon the distance which the blades are forced apart by the entry of the eye between them. This in turn will depend upon the size of the eye and the space or thickness occupied by the threads, and in order to permit adjustment of the pressure from time to time I have provided the thumb-screws 32 which have been previously described, whereby the spring pressure may be regulated.

After a sufficient travel between the blades to insure a proper cutting or removal of the threads, the buttons should be released and caught into a suitable receptacle, or allowed to deliver from the machine. I have, therefore, illustrated the lower coiiperating edges of the blades as cut away to provide a slot 46 shown in Fig. 1. This slot is of such width that when the eye of the button reaches it, the blades will come together without pressure on the eye, thus freeing the button and allowing it to deliver.

It was previously stated that certain kinds of button-riveting machines are provided with receptacles which may be filled with buttons to permit them to feed automati cally as the riveting operations proceed. Certain of these machines are provided with removable receptacles which may be filled with the buttons, and then connected onto the riveting machine. As a convenient means of illustrating the mechanisms of the present invention, I have shown them so constructed that they Will readily accommodate one of these button receptacles of familiar construction. In the arrangement illustrated, the button receptacle takes the form of a tube or the like 47, the forwardportion of which is somewhat contracted in size to provide a narrow forwardly extending eye-receiving portion 48. This portion may be seated up into the slot 46, as best shown in Fig. 1, so that the upper end of the tube will lie exactly in position to receive the buttons as they are delivered at l the lower ends of the cutting blades. The particularrbutton-receiving tube illustrated has a rearwardly projecting rib or the like 49'on its upper end. I have, therefore, illustrated a spring 50 securely attached to the head 13, andwhich spring has its upper end suitably formed to hook in behind the rib 49 for the purpose of holding the tube 47 temporarily in position. It, therefore, follows that this button-receiving tube may be temporarily hooked in place to directly receive the buttons as they are severed from the shoe, thereby simultaneously filling the tube after which the tube may be properly connected into the button-riveting machine.

It may sometimes happen that a button will become disengaged from the blades, or fail to properly engage between them, and drop down into the lower portion of the slot l4'without properly delivering into the tube 47 or other receptacle. In orderto insure a delivery of such buttons from the machine, I have illustrated the lower end of the slot 14 as curving downwardly to provide a pocket or the like 51 which communicates with a hole or opening 52 in the side of the lower portion of the head, from which hole will be delivered any buttons which have not been properly delivered into the buttonreceiving receptacle.

It will be noted particularly from Figs. 1 and 4 that the screws by which the blades are held in position are counter-seated in the blades so that their heads will lie flush with the blades. This is a convenient and desirable construction, for the reason that by this means I do away with any rough surfaces or points on which the shoes might become caught when using the machine in normal service.

It will be understood that in the normal operation of the machine, the buttons may be removed from the shoe one at a time. For this purpose, the foot pedal and finger 16 will be allowed to stand in their uppermost positions under the influence of the spring, after which the desired button will be hooked into the'slot 33. The shoe will then be pulled down to carry the button into the lower end 34 of said slot, thereby simultaneously entering the button eye between the blades. Pressure-may then be applied to the foot pedal, which will force the finger down, carrying with it the button, and simultaneously cutting the threads. When the lower end of the stroke is reached, the button will be delivered into the receptacle or allowed to fall onto the floor as desired, and then the foot pedal may be released, or allowed to restore to its uppermost position under the influence of its spring.

From an examination particularly of Fig. 2, it will be seen that the upper end of the spring member 50 is bent back to a certain extent. hen the button collecting tube 47 is withdrawn, the upper end of the spring 50 will move out toward the front of the machine until it lies substantially beneath the lower ends of the cutting bars, thereby covering over or closing the space between the lower ends of the bars. Therefore, if the buttons be removed when the collecting tube has been withdrawn, the buttons will be deflected over into the pockets 51 by the spring member 50, so that they will deliver out through the hole 52.

While I have herein shown and described only one form of receptacle for receiving the buttons, still it will be understood that any desired receptacle might be substituted therefor, or the machine might be used without any receptacle whatever. There is a. certain convenience in using a receptacle which will directly receive the buttons in such condition that the receptacle may thereafter be directly attached or connected to a riveting machine.

While I have herein shown and described only one form of construction and arrangement of parts embodying the features of my invention, still it will be understood that said features are in no wise limited to this embodiment, but that many other forms and arrangements of parts might be devised which would nevertheless embody all or certain of features of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating blades having contiguous threadsevering edges, and means for moving a button longitudinally of the blades with a portion of the button entered between the blades, and between the contiguous thread-severing edges thereof.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of coeperating blades having contiguous cooperating thread-severing cutting edges, of means for forcing a button longitudinally of the blades, the thread carrying portion of the button being entered between the cooperating portions of the blades, and between the contiguous thread-severing edges thereof.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating blades having contiguous cooperating thread-severing portions, of means for forcing a button longitudinally of the blades with the eye of the button entered between the blades, and between the contiguous thread-severing edges thereof.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades and means for forcing a button longitudinally of them, of means for yieldingly maintaining the blades in cooperative relationship.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating blades having thread-severing portions, and means for forcing a button longitudinally of the blades with its thread carrying portion entered between the blades, of means for carrying the blades into cooperative relationship, and a means for adjusting said carrymg means.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, and means for moving a button longitudinally thereof, of means for causing the eye of the button to enter between the cooperating portions of the blades preparatory to such longitudinal movement.

7 In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, and means for moving a button longitudinally of the same, of means for causing the eye of a button to enter between the blades and for maintaining the head of the button squarely against the faces of the blades preparatory to such longitudinal movement.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, means for carrying the blades into cooperative relationship under spring tension, and means for moving a button longitudinally of the blades, of means for causing the eye of a button to enter between the cooperating portions of the blades with the head of the button lying squarely against the faces of the blades preparatory to such longitudinal movement.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, of means for moving a button longitudinally of the blades and for maintaining the head of the button solidly in engagement with the faces of the blades which are contiguous to the cooperating portions of the blades.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating blades having thread-severing portions, of means for entering the eye of a button between the thread-severing edges, and means for moving a button longitudinally of the bladeswhile the eye remains between the thread-severing edges and for maintaining the head of the button firmly in engagement with the faces of the blades which are contiguous to the thread-severing edges.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades having their upper portions rearwardly beveled to provide a head-receiving slot, of means for creating a pressure on the head of the button after the same has been extended through said slot for the purpose of carrying the button longitudinally of the blades.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades having their upper portions suitably formed to provide a headreceiving and directing slot between them, of means for engaging the head of the button after the same has been extended through said slot, for the purpose of maintaining the button in desired position with respect to the blades, and means for subsequently moving the button longitudinally of the blades.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades having their upper portions rearwardly beveled to provide a head-receiving slot therebetween, of means for engaging the head of the button to maintain the same firmly in engagement with the rear faces of the blades while the shank of the button is entered between the blades, and means for subsequently moving the button longitudinally of the blades while its shank remains engaged between the blades.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, and a longitudinally movable finger having a beveled buttoncontacting portion adapted to travel adjacent to the cooperating portions of the blades.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, a finger having a beveled button-contacting portion adapted to travel adjacent to the cooperating portions of the blades, said finger normally standing in an initial position prior to a button-severing operation, and means for restoring said finger to its initial position after a button-severing operation.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, a finger having a button contacting portion which is beveled toward the direction of button-severing movement, said finger being adapted to travel adjacent to the cooperating portions of the blade and normally standing in an initial position prior to a button-severing operation, and means for restoring said finger to its initial position after a buttonsevering operation.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating blades having thread-severing contiguous faces, and means for moving a button longimeans for receiving the button at the end of the blades after the threads have been severed therefrom.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, and means for moving a button longitudinally thereof while the thread-carr ing portion of the button is entered between the blades, of a button-receiving tube having its end portion entered between the blades in position to receive the buttons after the threads are severed.

19..In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of threadsevering blades, and means for moving a button longitudinally thereof while the thread-carrying portion is entered between the blades, of a button-receiving tube having its end portion entered between the blades in position to receive the buttons after the threads are severed, and means for clamping said tube in such position.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of thread-severing blades, and means for moving a button longitudinally thereof while its thread carrying portion is entered between the blades, of a button-receiving tube having its end portion entered between the blades in position to receive the buttons as they are released, and having a rib on its end portion, and means for temporarily engaging said rib for the purpose of holding the tube in such position.

21. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a pair of blades having their contiguous faces provided with cooperating thread-severing portions, of means for moving a button longitudinally of said blades while its thread-carrying portion is entered between the blades until said threadcarrying portion is clear of the cooperating thread-severing portions of the blades.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating blades having their contiguous faces provided with cooperating thread-severing portions, and means for moving a button lengthwise of said blades,with its thread-carrying portion between the blades, to a point beyond the cooperating portions of the blades. 23. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades having downwardly extending diagonally lying grooves in their cooperating faces, said grooves terminating in the exterior faces of the blades, and means for. moving a button longitudinally of the blades, while its thread-carrying portion lies between the blades.

24. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, and means for moving a button lengthwise of the blades, while its thread-carrying portion lies between the blades, the cooperating portions of the blades being provided with grooves extending in the direction of movement of the button and terminating on the exterior faces of the blades.

25. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, and means for moving a button lengthwise of said blades, while its thread-carrying portion lies between the blades, the cooperating portions of the blades being provided With thread-delivery grooves extending in the direction of movement of the buttonqnoving means and toward the exterior faces of the blades, for the purpose of delivering severed threads to the exterior of the machine.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, and means for moving a button longitudinally of the blades, for the purpose of severing the threads, the cooperating portions of the blades being provided with longitudinally extending ribs, the upper edge of each rib being sharpened to present a thread-cutting edge.

27. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, and means for moving a button longitudinally thereof, while its thread-carrying portion lies between the blades, the cooperating portions of the blades being provided with longitudinally extending ribs, the upper edge of each rib being sharpened, and the lower edge thereof being beveled.

28. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, and means for moving a button lengthwise thereof, while its thread-carrying portion lies between the blades, the cooperating portions of the blades being provided with ribs having their approaching edges sharpened, and their retreating edges beveled.

29. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of cooperating thread-severing blades, and means for moving a button lengthwise thereof, while its thread-carrying portion lies between the blades, the cooperating portions of the blades being provided with cooperating ribs having approaching and retreating surfaces, the ribs having their approaching surfaces substantially flat, and their retreating surfaces beveled.

30. In a machine of the class described the combination of blades adapted to receive the eye of a shoe button therebetween, the contiguous faces of said blades being suitably formed to cut the thread when the eye of the button is moving lengthwise of said blades, and means for moving the button and eye lengthwise of the blades.

31. In a machine of the class described the combination of a pair of blades relatively mounted in position to provide an elongated slot between them for the reception of the eye of a button, those faces of the blades which constitute the sides of said slot being suitably formed for the cutting and removal of thread from the eye of the button, and means for moving the button and eye longitudinally of the slot.

82. In a machine of the class described the combination of a pair of blades mounted in position to provide a relatively long slot between them, those faces of the blades constituting said slot being so formed as to sever and remove threads from an eye when the same moves lengthwise of the slot.

33. In a machine of the class described the combination of a pair of blades mounted in position to provide a relatively long slot between them, those surfaces of the blades constituting the sides of said slot being suitably formed for severing and removing threads from the eye of a button, and means for carrying the blades toward each other under a yielding pressure.

34. In a machine of the class described the combination of a pair of blades mounted in position to provide an elongated slot between them, those faces of the blades which constitute the sides of said slot being suitably formed to sever and remove threads from a button eye which travels in the slot, and means for causing a button to travel in the direction of the slot while its eye remains between the blades.

35. In a machine of the class described the combination of a pair of blades mounted in position to provide a relatively long slot between them, those faces of the blades which constitute the sides of said slot being provided with grooves extending diagonally from one face of the blade to the other, and means for causing a button to travel lengthwise of the slot while its eye is entered within the slot.

36. In a machine of the class described the combination of a pair of blades mounted in position to provide a relatively long slot between them, those faces of the blades constituting the sides of said slot being provided with diagonally extending grooves, the grooves on the opposite sides of the slot extending in the same diagonal direction from one side of the machine to the other side thereof, and means for causing a but ton eye to travel lengthwise of the slot while entered between the blades.

37. In a machine of the class described the combination with means for severing and removing threads from the eye of a shoe button and delivering the buttons to a common point, of a tube mounted in position to receive the buttons at said point, said'tube being of substantially T-shaped cross section for the reception of the buttons.

38. In a machine of the class described the combination with means for severing and removing threads from the eye of a shoe button and delivering the buttons at a common point, of a tube of T-shaped cross section mounted in position to receive the buttons at said point with the eyes of the buttons directed into the arm of the I.

39. In a device of the class described the combination with means for removing shoe buttons and delivering them at a common point, of a tube of 'I-shaped cross section mounted in position to receive the buttons at said point with the eyes of the buttons directed into the arm of the T.

40. In a machine of the class described the combination with a pair of blades mounted in position to receive the eye of a button between them for the purpose of severing and removing threads therefrom, of a tube of T-shaped cross section mounted with the arm of its T in registry with the eyes of the buttons as they are delivered from between the blades.

41. In a machine of the class described the combination with a pair of blades mounted in position to receive the eye of a button between them for the purpose of severing and removing threads therefrom, and means for forcing the button when in such position toward the ends of the blades, of a tube of T-shaped cross section mounted with the arm of its T in registry with the space between the blades for the purpose of directly receiving the buttons when they have completed movement lengthwise of the ends of the blades.

HERBERT J. BRAGDON.

Witnesses:

ALBERT J. NoLrNsKY, 'IHoMAs A. BANNING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

